DIFC or ADGM for a family office? The wealth threshold usually decides first

Families weighing a single family office in the UAE usually shortlist two common-law financial centres: DIFC in Dubai and ADGM in Abu Dhabi. Both have their own courts and independent regulators, and neither requires a financial services licence for a pure single family office serving one family.

The first filter is wealth. DIFC's Family Arrangements Regulations 2023 look for aggregate family net assets of around US$50 million, confirmed annually; ADGM's threshold is around US$10 million; DMCC's Single Family Office licence starts near US$1 million in liquid assets. Families below these levels typically begin with a foundation or an outsourced family office instead.

After the threshold, the decision turns on structure and ecosystem: DIFC offers a deep bench of private banks, custodians and law firms around its courts; ADGM's foundations regime is a frequent choice for asset protection and succession. Serving more than one family by way of business changes the answer entirely, it becomes a regulated activity requiring DFSA authorisation in DIFC or FSRA authorisation in ADGM.

Source: DIFC Family Arrangements Regulations 2023 and ADGM family office guidance. Figures indicative; confirm with DIFC, ADGM and DMCC before relying on them.